Chemical Immobilization: Strategies of Approach
The nature of wild and exotic animals nearly always necessitates the use of chemical immobilization for their handling and manipulation. Anesthetizing wild and exotic animals is typically done for the purposes of research, wildlife management, animal control or to render individual medical treatment to animals.
Anesthesia of wildlife species is challenging and often requires that veterinarians and wildlife managers adjust the principles of anesthesia to the physiological parameters of various wildlife species under difficult field conditions, since specific anatomical and physiological details of target animals are not always available.1 For many years, morbidity and mortality in animals undergoing field anesthetic procedures was not uncommon. More recently however, veterinarians working with custom compounding pharmacies have been instrumental in formulating drug combinations that are safer and minimize stress in animals.
In the United States, all of the drugs used for the chemical immobilization of animals (wild and domestic) are regulated under federal law by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and tracked by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). As such, a licensed veterinarian must serve as the system administrator as regards the procurement and disposition of all of the chemical immobilizing agents used by the wide range of organization types engaging in the chemical immobilization of animals (e.g., veterinary clinics, universities, research institutions, government agencies, park services, etc.).
Strategies of Approach
The strategies of approach in delivering chemical immobilizing agents (drugs) to wild/exotic animals differs, and is usually predicated upon the circumstances and venue.2 In general, these consist of:
- Manual (hand injection)
- Pole syringe (“jab sticks”)
- Remote delivery systems (darts, blow guns)
Manual injection using a hand-held syringe might be used in a zoo setting with smaller animals, or with free-ranging animals that have been captured and restrained using nets. Drugs can be also administered to larger and more unpredictable animals that have been trapped or approached at shorter distances via pole syringes (“jab sticks”). These provide a means of injecting animals in situations where hand injection is unsafe, and/or adequate restraint facilities are unavailable. Pole syringes consist of a metal, plastic or nylon barrel attached to a flexible plunger. These are sold in several different lengths and essentially represent a syringe on a stick.
Remote delivery systems have become popular in recent years and are widely used in the chemical immobilization of free-ranging animals. With these systems, a premixed drug or drug combination is drawn into the dart, which is placed into a customized rifle or pistol. Dart guns typically utilize pressured gas to deliver the dart to an animal. These may be fired from the ground, a ground vehicle or a helicopter. Blow guns can also be used for the purposes of remote delivery, but their applications are limited, since these rely on close proximity and are breath-powered.
Interested in learning more about safe capture? The San Diego Zoo now offers courses in safe capture techniques and best practices. Learn reliable, safe, and effective techniques for the species you work with and the scenarios you encounter!
1Arnemo, J., Kreeger, T. (2018). Handbook of Wildlife Chemical Immobilization 5th Ed. Sunquest Publishing, 2007, 432 pages.
2Nielsen, L. Chemical Immobilization of Wild and Exotic Animals. (1999) Ames, Iowa, Iowa State University Press.
About NexGen Pharmaceuticals
NexGen Pharmaceuticals is an industry-leading veterinary compounding pharmacy, offering sterile and non-sterile compounding services nationwide. Unlike other veterinary compounding pharmacies, NexGen focuses on drugs that are difficult to find or are no longer available due to manufacturer discontinuance or have yet to be offered commercially for veterinary applications, but which still serve a critical need for our customers. We also specialize in wildlife pharmaceuticals, including sedatives and their antagonists, offering many unique options to serve a wide array of zoo animal and wildlife immobilization and anesthesia requirements.
Our pharmacists are also encouraged to develop strong working relationships with our veterinarians in order to better care for veterinary patients. Such relationships foster an ever-increasing knowledge base upon which pharmacists and veterinarians can draw, making both significantly more effective in their professional roles.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this blog post is general in nature and is intended for use as an informational aid. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medications shown, nor is the information intended as medical advice or diagnosis for individual health problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of using a particular medication. You should consult your veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), nor has the FDA approved the medications to diagnose, cure or prevent disease. Medications compounded by NexGen Pharmaceuticals are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian. NexGen Pharmaceuticals compounded veterinary preparations are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals.
NexGen Pharmaceuticals, LLC does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any specific dosing, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, veterinary care providers or other information that may be contained in this blog post. NEXGEN PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE NOR LIABLE FOR ANY ADVICE, COURSE OF TREATMENT, DIAGNOSIS OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION, SERVICES OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU OBTAIN THROUGH THIS BLOG POST.